Managing forage shortfalls after drought

The recent weather has been extremely challenging. Drought conditions stopped grass growth across much of the country, forcing many farms into winter-feeding mode earlier than planned. The once reliable temperate climate, with a little of everything, now seems to be giving way to sharper extremes of heat, cold, and moisture. Climate reports suggest this may become more common, with summer rainfall reducing by 8 per cent and autumn/winter rainfall increasing by 10 per cent.

Even in the regions that have received rain, the following growth rates of 30kg to 40kg DM/ha/day will take several weeks to build meaningful covers. This is a double-edged position, as August and September are normally the months when farms build grass covers to extend rotations later into the season.

Silage stocks

Silage stocks are also a concern heading into the real winter period. Some farms that expected a third cut will not achieve it and may already have used part of their second cut. The immediate priority should be to complete a realistic feed budget based on animal numbers, expected feeding days, and actual forage available. It will not be exact, but it will give a useful ballpark figure. Acting now gives more options and should be more cost-effective than waiting until later in the year. Some solutions to possible shortfalls, in no specific order, are outlined as follows:

• Silage is the obvious replacement, but price and quality must be checked carefully. It may be simple and straightforward to source, but it can become the most expensive option.
• Alternative forages such as maize, beet, and whole crop can work well on price and quality, especially for finishing cattle or where extra feed is needed for winter or spring milk.
• Moist feeds can be useful in a balanced diet. Price them on dry matter and protein value and manage storage carefully to avoid significant wastage and animal health issues.
• Extra concentrate can reduce forage demand and support performance. In some cases, it may be cheaper and easier to feed than other replacements.
• Straw provides fill, with each kilogramme replacing roughly 4kg of forage, but it is low quality and needs to be balanced with concentrates.
• Fibre straights such as soya hulls or palm kernel can help, but after 2kg to 3kg their fill value drops, and extra bulk may still be required.

In many situations if you have a shortfall of less than 100t, focus on straw and concentrates. If your shortfall is greater than this, look towards a forage/forage replacement.